Geraldton Aboriginal short stay accommodation facility delayed until 2024

The proposed Aboriginal short stay accommodation facility for Geraldton will be delayed following initial consultation with traditional owners by the Department of Communities.

The $18 million project is set to provide temporary housing for more than 70 people in remote communities in the Mid West.

However a spokesperson for the department has revealed the facility has been delayed until at least 2024.

“To ensure the facility’s design is fit for purpose we have been engaging with stakeholders across the Mid-West Gascoyne,” they said.

“Project timelines have been impacted after undertaking necessary and important Aboriginal heritage due diligence, with the Aboriginal community, elders and traditional owners.”

“We used a delay to better understand the heritage and culture of the site, to ensure these are respected and incorporated into the design at no additional cost,”

The project is due to be constructed on the Bundiyarra site in Utakarra.

While they do not expect any further delays they do not have an exact opening date warning the project is not immune to the challenges currently being experienced in the construction industry.

The facility is to form part of a growing network of short stay accommodation across WA to provide better access to services for remote communities.

Facilities are planned for Kununurra and Perth, joining existing accommodation in Kalgoorlie, Derby and Broome.